Keno Betting Method

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an additional bet to the game of Keno. The last ball drawn is used as a basis for betting. The player may bet any one of five ways: the exact number, whether it is top half or lower half, which quadrant it falls in: lowest, mid low, mid high, highest; whether it is odd or even, or the last digit of the number of the last drawn ball. The betting is added to a Keno betting ticket.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application no. 61/827,059 filed on May 24, 2013 and provisional application no. 61/838,458 filed on Jun. 24, 2013. Both provisional applications are incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This application is directed to casino games, in particular, to number drawing games. Such games include Keno where twenty numbers from a series of one to eighty are randomly drawn and the player attempts to win by guessing at least some of the numbers that are drawn. This application is directed to casino games, in particular, to number drawing games. Such games include Keno where twenty numbers from a series of one to eighty are randomly drawn and the player attempts to win by guessing at least some of the numbers that are drawn.

(2) Description of Related Art

Almost all casinos in the world have Keno lounges, where a selection of 20 balls from a total of 80 numbered balls are selected by a machine in a random manner to determine winners.

In a typical Keno game played in a casino, a player bets using a paper ticket/card. To make a bet, a player marks anywhere from 1 to 20 numbers on a card that has 80 numbers arranged in eight rows of ten. The player then takes (or gives) the card to a Keno writer to place a bet on the selected numbers. The bet is usually in increments of a ‘house’ minimum bet. Minimum bets can be $0.25, $0.50, $1.00, $2.00, etc.

During the drawing, twenty numbered balls out of eighty are drawn. The last number drawn usually appears as a blinking number. After the twenty numbers are drawn, winnings are paid according to a payout table for players who have at least one (or more depending on the bet) matching number(s) on their ticket. The payout table is often different from casino to casino. For a typical example, a four-spot ticket with a $2 wager would pay $2 (that is, exactly $2 and nothing more) if two numbers hit. A two number hit means that two of the twenty numbered balls match two of the selected numbers on the ticket. If three numbers hit, the payout is $8, and if all four selected number hit the payout is $230. In many casinos the last number drawn usually appears as a blinking number, and signifies that the current game has ended.

However, in another casino, a three number hit might pay $7 and all four $240, and in another casino the payoffs might be $6 and $220, respectively. Casino's set the payout table due to internal and external competitive reasons.

The casino take typically ranges between 4 to 35 percent, with the lower ranges for online Keno. Live Keno tends to be in the higher take range. Video keno tends to be in the lower take range.

In a video version of Keno, a player ‘marks a ticket’ electronically, that is, selects the balls through an electronic interface. The interface may look like an actual ticket, a ‘virtual ticket’, or may simply be rows of numbers. The player verifies the selection and then the drawing takes place for the individual player, or among a group of players. Winnings are then awarded.

Bets.

Straight Ticket: Betting the numbers marked as a single wager is called betting a straight ticket. It's the simplest way to play

Way Ticket. Many players like to bet on combinations. The way this is done is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, in FIG. 1, a player might mark six numbers, circle two groups of three, and mark on the side of the ticket, “2/3, 1/6.” The player then would bet $3 to have $1 wagers on each of two three-spot combinations and on the six-spot. In FIG. 2, the player has marked the card for three groups of two combinations (3/2), three groups of four combinations (3/4), and a straight bet on the selected numbers (1/6). At $0.25 per bet, the total wager is 3×$0.25+3×$0.25+1×$0.25=$1.75.

Alternative Betting

As alternatives to traditional betting, other bets are available. These include a top/bottom selection where the player bets that the ball distribution will be uneven between the numbers 1-40 (bottom) and 41-80 (top). The betting often starts paying when the distribution is uneven on a 7/13 or 13/7 ball distribution between the top half and bottom half. Higher payouts go to higher distribution inequities. Other distribution bets include left and right (as viewed on the betting card), and odd-even. There are other card geometry type of distribution bets which include edge and square.

Progressive Jackpots.

For higher-number totals played, or for bigger bets, many keno games offer progressive jackpots. The jackpots increase with time until someone wins the jackpot. This improves the payout table for a short period of time and provides incentive for playing.

Video Keno.

Video keno is the same game played on a computerized format using a video screen. The players select numbers by a touch screen interface. Pay tables can be better than live keno and have become more popular.

The main draw for a player to Keno is the possibility of winning a large sum of money for a very small bet. This kind of return is not possible anywhere else in the casino. A $2 wager can return as much as $100,000 (see FIG. 3). This appeal keeps the game attractive with a small percentage of players, even though popularity has declined.

Any method to improve betting, or add to the number of bets that can be placed will help improve the excitement of live Keno. It is also import to understand that the keno game operators desire efficiency in betting. Lastly, it is important that a player finds the bet understandable and believes that the return is worth the bet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an additional bet to the game of Keno. The last ball drawn is used as a basis for betting (and is usually designated by a blinking number). The blinking number signifies that the current game has ended. The player may bet in one or more of any one of five ways on the last drawn ball: the exact number, whether it is top half or lower half, which quadrant it falls in: lowest, mid low, mid high, or highest; whether it is odd or even, or the last number of the last number. Other side bets are possible, such as a particular range of numbers, and the bets listed are not the only ones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical marked up Keno ticket.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate typical marked up Keno ticket.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical example of a Keno Payout table for a $2 bet.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Keno ticket that includes betting for the last ball drawn.

FIG. 5 illustrates a Keno ticket that includes betting for the last ball drawn where the last digit of the last drawn ball is also included as a possible bet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a side or additional bet to the live or video game of Keno. The last ball drawn is often blinking or a different color and is distinctive for the player. It is the 20^(th) ball drawn and signifies that the current game has ended. It is the most memorable ball because it marks the end of the drawing period. The blinking number signifies that the current game has ended. (Other methods of identifying the last drawn ball may be used and include spinning, a notable icon, enlargement, sounds, etc.)

Because of the distinctiveness of the last ball, in the present invention it is used as a basis for betting. The player may bet on the last ball on one or more of any one of five or more ways:

-   -   1. It will be a particular number.     -   2. It will be in the lower half or top half of numbers. That is,         it will be in the range of between 1 and 40 inclusive, or 41 and         80 inclusive, respectively.     -   3. It will fall in a particular quadrant.         -   a. lowest (range of numbers between 1 and 20, inclusive)         -   b. mid low (range of numbers between 21 and 40, inclusive)         -   c. mid high (range of numbers between 41 and 60, inclusive)         -   d. highest (range of numbers between 61 and 80, inclusive)         -   4. It will be either odd or even.         -   5. The last number of the last number (i.e. the last digit             of the last ball number). For example a bet on 9 would be a             bet that 9, 19, 29, 39, . . . or 79 would be drawn.             Similarly, a bet on 3 would be a bet that 3, 13, 23, 33, 43,             . . . or 73 would be drawn.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a Keno ticket that includes betting for the last ball drawn. On the lower portion of the ticket there is a row for placing bets for the last ball. On that row, the player may enter the number for an exact match or the player may mark the number on the card and draw a line down to the spot where the number would be written in. The player may then place a separate bet for odd/even, top/bottom, or quadrant. Each bet is a single bet and there is no combination shown on this ticket. Combination betting on the last ball is not permitted.

In video keno, the player makes a similar bet, but it is through an electronic interface. Essentially, the player makes an electronic bet for odd/even, top/bottom, or quadrant. Each bet is a single bet and there is no combination shown on this ticket. Again, combination betting on the last ball is not permitted.

Table 1 following shows a potential payout table for last ball drawn where the ‘house’ take is 25%. Such a payout table would be up to the casino based on competitive and internal issues. Payout tables vary from casino to casino, and table 1 is only meant to be illustrative, not restrictive to an exact amount.

Video keno often has a much lower house take than live keno.

TABLE 1 Hit (Match) Payout Exact  60:1 Quadrant   3:1 Even/Odd 1.5:1 Top/Bottom 1.5:1 Last Number of 7.5:1 Last Number

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described, the invention may be modified and adapted to various operational methods to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the description and figure shown herein, and includes all such embodiments, changes, and modifications that are encompassed by the scope of the claims. 

1. A method of a player betting on the last drawn ball of a keno game comprising, a) establishing a keno game provider wherein at least one player participates in said keno game, b) said keno game provider provides a keno game where twenty balls are drawn from a pool of eighty balls that are consecutively numbered, c) noting the number of the last drawn ball from the group of said twenty balls, d) said player bets with the keno game provider on the number of said last drawn ball from at least one item from the group consisting of: i) that said last drawn ball will be a specific number, ii) that said last drawn ball will be either in the numerical upper half or the numerical lower half of the eighty ball pool, iii) that said last drawn ball will be in the:
 1. lowest numerical quadrant,
 2. mid low numerical quadrant,
 3. mid high numerical quadrant, or
 4. highest numerical quadrant of the eighty ball pool, iv) that said last drawn ball will be odd or even, and v) that the last digit of the number of said last drawn ball will be a particular number, and e) providing a known payout to the player by the keno game provider.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the payout table is 60:1 for a correct specific number selection, 3:1 for a correct quadrant selection, 1.5:1 for a correct even or odd selection, and 1.5:1 for a correct upper or lower half selection, 7.5:1 for a correct last digit of the number of said last drawn ball selection.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said keno game is either a live version or a video version of keno.
 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein a keno betting ticket is marked for a bet when said keno game is live. 